Academic

Accent Vector: Controllable Accent Manipulation for Multilingual TTS Without Accented Data

arXiv:2603.07534v1 Announce Type: new Abstract: Accent is an integral part of society, reflecting multiculturalism and shaping how individuals express identity. The majority of English speakers are non-native (L2) speakers, yet current Text-To-Speech (TTS) systems primarily model American-accented English due limited accented data. We propose \textit{Accent Vector}, a controllable representation that enables accent manipulation in multilingual TTS without requiring accented training data. \textit{Accent Vector} is derived by fine-tuning a TTS system on native speech of a different language (i.e. non-English) and computing task vectors capturing accent characteristics (i.e. in English). By scaling and interpolating the vector, we achieve fine-grained control over accent strength and generate mixed-accent speech. In addition, it generalizes beyond English, enabling accent control across multiple languages. Objective and human evaluations confirm the effectiveness of Accent Vector for fi

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Thanathai Lertpetchpun, Thanapat Trachu, Jihwan Lee, Tiantian Feng, Dani Byrd, Shrikanth Narayanan · · 1 min read · 17 views
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arXiv:2603.07534v1 Announce Type: new Abstract: Accent is an integral part of society, reflecting multiculturalism and shaping how individuals express identity. The majority of English speakers are non-native (L2) speakers, yet current Text-To-Speech (TTS) systems primarily model American-accented English due limited accented data. We propose \textit{Accent Vector}, a controllable representation that enables accent manipulation in multilingual TTS without requiring accented training data. \textit{Accent Vector} is derived by fine-tuning a TTS system on native speech of a different language (i.e. non-English) and computing task vectors capturing accent characteristics (i.e. in English). By scaling and interpolating the vector, we achieve fine-grained control over accent strength and generate mixed-accent speech. In addition, it generalizes beyond English, enabling accent control across multiple languages. Objective and human evaluations confirm the effectiveness of Accent Vector for fine-grained and compositional accent control.

Executive Summary

This article proposes a novel approach to accent manipulation in multilingual Text-To-Speech systems, enabling fine-grained control over accent strength and generation of mixed-accent speech. By fine-tuning a TTS system on native speech of a different language and computing task vectors, the authors introduce the concept of Accent Vector, which generalizes beyond English and allows for accent control across multiple languages. Objective and human evaluations confirm the effectiveness of Accent Vector, showcasing its potential in addressing the limitations of current TTS systems. This breakthrough has significant implications for the development of more inclusive and culturally sensitive speech synthesis technology.

Key Points

  • ▸ The authors propose a novel approach to accent manipulation in multilingual TTS systems.
  • ▸ Accent Vector is a controllable representation that enables fine-grained control over accent strength and generation of mixed-accent speech.
  • ▸ The approach generalizes beyond English and allows for accent control across multiple languages.

Merits

Strength in Addressing Linguistic Diversity

Accent Vector addresses a significant limitation of current TTS systems, which primarily model American-accented English, and extends the technology to accommodate diverse linguistic backgrounds.

Demerits

Dependence on High-Quality Training Data

The effectiveness of Accent Vector relies on the quality of the native speech data used for fine-tuning, which may be challenging to obtain, especially for underrepresented languages.

Expert Commentary

The introduction of Accent Vector marks a significant milestone in the field of speech synthesis, addressing a long-standing limitation of current TTS systems. By leveraging the power of multilingual TTS, the authors have opened doors to new possibilities for language expression and identity. While the technology is still in its infancy, its potential to democratize access to language and promote cultural understanding is vast. As the field continues to evolve, it will be essential to address the challenges of data quality and availability, as well as the social and cultural implications of Accent Vector's applications.

Recommendations

  • ✓ Further research is needed to explore the limitations and potential applications of Accent Vector in real-world scenarios.
  • ✓ Developers and policymakers should prioritize the development of more inclusive and culturally sensitive TTS systems, leveraging the potential of Accent Vector to promote language diversity and accessibility.

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